Handbag



March 3, 1936. s. MILLER 2,032,625

HANDBAG Filed May 20, 1955 g z INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to handbags and is particularly directed to that type of handbag which is employed by ladies and is characterized by the fact that the pivotally connected frame members for the bag proper are, at least in part, employed to support within the bag one or more auxiliary receptacles for various accoutrements such, for example, as cosmetics, cigarettes or other articles for personal use.

Concerning the above-mentioned auxiliary receptacles, it is desirable that they shall be so located that they lie wholly or substantially wholly intermediate the frame members of the bag when the bag is closed, and it is further desirable that they shall be pivotally supported on the axis of. the pivotally connected frame members so as to enable them to be moved into a contiguous relation to one or the other of the frame members when the bag is opened in order to allow unobstructed access to the contents of the bag.

Bearing in mind that an auxiliary receptacle when pivotally supported by the frame members of the bag in such a manner that it will lie wholly or substantially wholly intermediate the frame members of the bag when the bag is closed, it becomes apparent that the auxiliary receptacle, when in its normal or intended position, is, of necessity, more or less top heavy, due to the fact that the greater portion of its weight is above rather than below its pivotal axis, and will therefore tend to move about its pivotal axis into an inverted position which is objectionable in that it then not only affords an obstruction to ones access to the contents of the bag but also in that it must be righted to permit convenient use thereof in the manner intended according to the nature of the auxiliary receptacle.

The primary object of. the present invention is to provide in a handbag, which is equipped with one or more pivotally supported auxiliary receptacles, means whereby the foregoing objections may be overcome, and to that end the structure contemplated includes a pair of handbag frame members pivotally connected to each other by a pair of hinges which are so constructed that the hinges themselves, at least in part, may be employed to pivotally support one or more such auxiliary receptacles for movement to only a limited extent in one direction or the other about the pivotal axis of the frame members.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a top view of a handbag and its included auxiliary receptacle, the handbag and the auxiliary receptacle being shown in open positions; Fig. 2 is an end view, partly broken away, showing the bag and the auxiliary receptacle of Fig. 1 respectively open and closed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental perspective View, showing in detail one of the hinges for the frame members of the handbag, namely, the hinge appearing at the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing in detail means for limiting the extent of pivotal movement of the auxiliary receptacle in opposite directions about the pivotal axis of the frame members of the handbag, and Fig. 5 is a side view of an open handbag having a pair of auxiliary receptacles pivotally supported therein according to the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the handbag 5 is illustrated as including a pair of pivotally connected frame members 6 and I to which the pocket-forming or body portion 8 is suitably attached.

The pivotal connection of the frame members 6 and 1 to each other is afforded by a pair of hinges III which are structurally identical. As shown in Fig. 3, each of these hinges includes a yoke-strap l I carried by the frame member 6 and forming a bearing for a hinge pin l2, the head of which is positioned adjacent the outer end of the bearing and the shank portion of which projects through and is secured, as by solder, to an elongated sleeve I4 soldered or otherwise suitably connected to the frame member I. The yokelike straps II and the sleeves l4, constitute the relatively movable hinge sections of the respective hinges I0, they being held in a pivotal relation by the hinge pins l2 which project a slight distance beyond the inner ends of the sleeves l4 and there serve as trunnions by which an auxiliary receptacle, such as a cosmetic case l5, may be pivotally supported. The pivotal connection between the hinge pins l2, which serve as trunnions, and the receptacle I5 is afforded by reason of the fact that the inner ends of the pins l2 pass through the end walls I6 of one of the two hingedly connected companion sections I! of the auxiliary receptacle within which may be permanently carried, for example, a mirror l8 and one or more cosmetic tablets 20.

In order that pivotal movement of the auxiliary receptacle l5 in one direction or the other about its pivotal axis may be limited, the inner ends of the pins l2 are provided with wing-like stop abutments 2| and 22, the stop abutment 2| being of such length that it is adapted to engage the front wall 24 of the auxiliary receptacle when that receptacle is positioned, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, and the stop abutment 22 being of such length that it is adapted to engage the wall 24 when the receptacle is moved through an angle of degrees and into its dotted line position shown in that figure.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the stop abutments 2| and 22 effectively serve to prevent undue displacement of the auxiliary receptacle I5 about its pivotal axis, with the result that the auxiliary receptacle is maintained at all times in such position as to insure its being confined intermediate the frame members of the handbag when moving such members to closed positions, and with the further result that it is maintained in such position when the handbag is opened as to enable access to be readily had to the contents of the handbag as well as to its own contents.

Aside from the fact that the sleeves l4 serve to retain the pins I2, and consequently the stop abutments 2| and 22, against rotary displacement with reference to the frame member I, to which the sleeves l4 are rigidly connected, it is obvious that they also serve to reinforce the pins l2;so that such-pins will be afforded adequate strength to support the auxiliary receptacle 15 which is held against movement longitudinally of its pivotal axis by reason of the fact that the sleeves I4 abut the end walls I6 of the auxiliary receptacle exteriorly thereof and by reason of the further fact that the stop abutments 2! and 22 are located interiorly of the auxiliary receptacle adjacent the end walls I6 thereof.

Referring to Fig. 5, wherein primed reference characters are employed to indicate such elements as are common to and have been described the embodiment of the invention therein shown reside in the fact that the handbag 5 is provided with a pair of auxiliary receptacles I5 and I5" which are connected together by a pin 25 passing through their respective end walls l6 and I6" and carrying a sleeve-like spacer 26, the receptacle l 5' being similar to the receptacle [5, previously described, and the receptacle l5 being illustrated as a cigarette case.

Aside from the modifications herein shown and described, it will be understood that. various other changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. A handbag comprising a pair of complementary frame members, a pair of hinges pivotally connecting said frame members to each other, each hinge including a hinge pin held against movement with relation to one of said frame. members, an, auxiliary receptacle .trunnioned on said hinge pins, and abutment stops carried by said hinge pins and cooperating with said auxiliary receptacle to limit its pivotal movement on said pins.

2. A handbag comprising a pair of complementary frame members, a pair of hinges pivotally connecting said frame members to each other, each hinge including a hinge pin held against movement with relation to one of said frame members, an auxiliary receptacle trunnioned on said hinge pins, and abutment stops carried by said hinge pins and cooperating with said auxiliary receptacle to limit its pivotal movement on said pins and to maintain said receptacle in position to be confined throughout the greater portion of its mass intermediate said frame members when moving them from open to closed positions.

SAMUEL MILLER. 

